LeahBird's List of Books (Probably Listened to in the Car) in 2016!

I'm back for another year of reading and chatting! Hopefully more of the latter this year as we all seemed to be a tad quiet last year. I'm still a nerd on a farm who reads a lot of fantasy, science fiction, and young adult, and is completely baby crazy, so not much has changed.

One thing that has changed is that my niece Addy is reading now and I'm going WAY overboard buying her books. This is her haul from just ONE side of my family, not including the other side of my family, her dad's family, and the whopping $70 in bookstore gift cards she received. And tomorrow she gets to open her very first SantaThing package!






Bonus! TOP TEN BOOKS OF 2015
1. Uprooted by Naomi Novik (4.5)
2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman (4.3)
3. The Martian by Andy Weir (4.17)
4. Stardust by Neil Gaiman (4.14)
5. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett (4.1)
6. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (4.08)
7. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (4.08)
8. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (4)
9. Manners & Mutiny by Gail Carriger (3.92)
10. The Girl With All the Gifts by MR Carey (3.91)

Very Honorable Mention: Yes, My Accent Is Real by Kunal Nayyar (which I actually gave 4.21 stars but couldn't bring myself to allow to nudge out any of the great fiction I read this year.)

And because it really is my favorite end of year thing....

END OF YEAR 2015 BOOK MEME!

Describe yourself: Fangirl

Describe how you feel: Uprooted

Describe where you currently live: The Unmapped Sea

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Your favorite form of transportation: American Gods

Your best friend is: The Martian

You and your friends are: Secondhand Souls

What’s the weather like: The Light Fantastic

You fear: The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil

What is the best advice you have to give: Carry On

Thought for the day: Yes, My Accent is Real

How you would like to die: Waistcoats & Weaponry

Your soul’s present condition: Stardust

Hahaha! Love the answer for your fear. XD

I never noticed the meme switched from first person to 2nd person in the meme before. Huh. I edited mine as well.

Welcome back!

Hi Leah! It's exciting to hear that Addy is developing a love for reading. Please report back when Addy has opened her SantaThing package!

>3 Ape: I highly recommend picking up The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil if you get the chance. The ending is a little abrupt and unsatisfying but the first 2/3s is really good and the art is wonderful!

>4 drneutron: Thanks! And thanks, as always, for giving us a home.

>5 cbl_tn: I will. I know what's she's getting and I'm pretty excited about it!

I hope you have a picture of her opening her SantaThing package too! The first one is always special! She does seem to have a nice haul of books. Hopefully that will keep her going for at least a month.

Happy New Year and new thread!

Addy was so excited to open her SantaThing tonight!



Interstellar Cinderella is great! Even more wonderful is that this Cinderella has red hair like Addy, so she instantly identified with her and loves all her tools!

>9 leahbird: Count on Santa to find just the right book!

>9 leahbird: Looks like Santa did a great job picking!

Awesome!

Hi Leah! Happy new year! I love seeing Addy with her new books! I also got the illustrated Harry Potter for Christmas! I love it!!

Happy New Year Leah!

>13 porch_reader: I picked the illustrated HP up for myself when it came out and it's really very lovely. I bought this copy for Addy and her mom (my sister) because a) it's lovely and b) my sister wants to start reading HP with Addy soon but she's not really patient enough for books without pictures quiet yet.

>14 The_Hibernator: Thanks!

I'm super excited for tomorrow (or later today when it's normal to be awake)! Not only do I get to see my friend and my godkids but my friend and I are going to do a locked room puzzle thingy!!! I've been wanting to go forever and haven't found a time when a group could get together so when she called tonight I was SOOOOO in! Can't wait to yell you all about it!

Sounds like fun! I hope you have a great time. :)

It was AWESOME! We did Prison Break at The Escape Room in Pigeon Forge, which is the hardest room they have. The four of us were split into two prison cells and we had to work together to escape our cells and work our way through the jail (a few rooms) to freedom.

We beat the room in 42 minutes 8 seconds! It was so much fun!

I've now set up to go again with girls from work next month. I think we're going to do a Museum Heist then.

>18 leahbird: That sounds like fun! Why don't I know about this place? Is it new?

>19 cbl_tn: Looks like it is at the Island, so it must be pretty new.

The one we did today is at the Island, yes, so quite new. The one in Knoxville is called Breakout and has been open less than a year, so very new as well.

Hi Leah! Happy New Year!

I was following Addy's SantaThing page as well, and the book she got looks great!

1. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper (read by Alex Jennings)


Description: On holiday in Cornwall, the three Drew children discover an ancient map in the attic of the house that they are staying in. They know immediately that it is special. It is even more than that -- the key to finding a grail, a source of power to fight the forces of evil known as the Dark. And in searching for it themselves, the Drews put their very lives in peril.

This is the first volume of Susan Cooper's brilliant and absorbing fantasy sequence known as The Dark Is Rising.

Thoughts: I received The Dark is Rising, the second book in this series, as my SantaThing gift. Naturally, I couldn't read it until I read the first book in the series!

This book certainly felt like one written in 1965. The story was good but there is very little time spent on slowly building the character relationships or advancing the plot. It clips along rather quickly from event to event. It's still rather good, just missing a lot of that nuance and atmosphere that most really compelling books would contain today.

Rating: 3.5

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 3
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 4

>23 leahbird: Oooh, I LOVE that series!!

>23 leahbird: That series is a weird one, as Over Sea, Under Stone is kind of like a prequel and the real party starts in The Dark is Rising (imho). Plus who names a series after book #2??

However, it's a great read! I trust you will love it.

I was really bugged about a series being named after the second book too!

I'm into The Dark is Rising now but I'm not sure if I get it. It could be that I'm listening to a book that really needs to be read but I feel like I'm not absorbing some aspect and I'm needing to repeat some sections.

Hopefully I'll get into it because everyone seems to really like it.

>26 leahbird: I remember feeling that way the first time I read it too. I'm not sure why.

>23 leahbird: I really need to read that series!

Hope you had a great weekend!

>28 The_Hibernator: Book two is picking up now so I have a better feeling about completing the series.

I spent the last two days intermittently cleaning and playing the newly released on Android The Room 3. It's so so so good. Do yourself a favor and play all three in order.

Alan Rickman has died and I am heartbroken.

:(

Has anyone played the app games Lifeline or The Martian (book tie in game)? I started playing both tonight and they have very interesting premises, like hi-tech choose-your-own-adventure books. It's all text based so all you get are messages from the characters you are trying to save and how you interact with them and the advice you give (ie which preloaded option you choose) decides the outcome of the situation and ultimately the game. And they play out in "real time," so if a charter says they are going to sleep for the night, you won't get another message for 8 hours. The alerts even come through on your phone lock screen looking like real messages.

It's very nifty. I've had to Google and Wikipedia information to relay on things like radiation poisoning, the level of oxygen in the air that won't cause an explosion when burning hydrogen, etc. I love this creative use of smartphone tech. So many games are copies of Bejeweled or a civ simulator and not terribly interesting, but these feel fresh and have a feeling of real world urgency.

Still think The Room games are the best ever but these are really cool!

2. Alex + Ada: Vol 1 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn (drawn by Jonathan Luna)


Description: From Jonathan Luna (GIRLS, THE SWORD, Spider-Woman, ULTRA) and Sarah Vaughn (Sparkshooter) comes ALEX + ADA, a sci-fi drama set in the near future. The last thing in the world Alex wanted was an X5, the latest in realistic androids. But when Ada is dropped into his life, he discovers she is more than just a robot.

Thoughts: I came across this series while picking books for SantaThing and it looked quite good. Being compared to Saga definitely gave it a leg up.

First, let me say that the art in this is lovely. It's sparse, and very character oriented. Almost every single panel is given over to conversation between characters or as a way to explore the emotional state of a character. It feels very personal.

Here's the first conversation between Alex and his newly received android. (click to expand)



And the moment his friends find out about the android.



The plot is quite good as well. It doesn't feel completely new, as the issues it raises have been done many times, but there is an element here that is fresher and interesting. And I just like the characters, even Ada who is barely an actual character in this first installment.

As always, my complaint is that it's too brief. I wish they would have held out and combine Vol 1 and 2 so there was more here, but it ends on a natural note. I just always want my graphic novels to be beefier. This moves along quite quickly and could use more time to breath, but it's a really nice start.

Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

Rating: 3.75

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Art: 4

3. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (read by Alex Jennings)


Description: On the Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special gift -- that he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. At once, he is plunged into a quest for the six magical Signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in the final battle between the Dark and the Light. And for the twelve days of Christmas, while the Dark is rising, life for Will is full of wonder, terror, and delight.

Thoughts: This book suffers from the same problem as the previous one in the series, namely that it moves briskly from plot point to plot point with little or no exposition or real development of character. This one benefits from being more firmly rooted in fantasy and mythology but the events just seem to happen, no one, especially not the main character of Will who should really be questioning EVERYTHING, stops to really asks how or why any of it is happening at all. Lyon has some lovely speeches about the Dark and the Old Ones but most of the "explanation" is just that Will is an Old One and therefore understands.

Unfortunately, I am not an Old One and I don't really get it. ;( I'm not moving on with the series right now, but I may pick it back up later.

Rating: 3.25

Liked: 3
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 3
Writing: 3
Audio: 4

4. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson


Description: The New York Times bestselling graphic novel sensation from Noelle Stevenson, based on her beloved and critically acclaimed web comic. Kirkus says, “If you’re going to read one graphic novel this year, make it this one.”

Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel has been hailed by critics and fans alike as the arrival of a “superstar” talent (NPR.org).

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

Thoughts: What can I say that hasn't already been said about Nimona? Probably nothing. It's WONDERFUL! It's got spectacular art, all the best fantasy tropes flipped upside down and backwards, a spunky main character who's a badass thick girl with purple hair (I'm choosing to ignore the pink), science, magic, etc etc!

Wish I'd taken the plunge before, but better late than never. I really hope the movie version of this that is in development will do it justice because it's so perfect.

Rating: 4.75

Liked: 5
Plot: 4.5
Characterization: 5
Writing: 4
Art: 5

>34 leahbird: Too bad you're not loving this classic series. :(

I hope you have a great week ahead!

>36 The_Hibernator: I definitely can see why people might love it and I do like it, but it's just not totally clicking for me. I've got high hopes that if I don't force it and come back to it later I may be more receptive to it.

Anyone have any helpful hints on travel to Southern California and/or Mexico, specifically from the East Coast? A friend is getting married in August in LA and I'm trying to figure out how to turn it into a trip to visit a friend near Mexico City while I'm already on that side of the country.

San Diego has wonderful weather in summer, but don't go across the border there. Tijuana is definitely one of those border towns that you can't wait to leave. In San Diego, some of the great spots to visit are the zoo, Mission San Diego, Old Town, Hotel del Coronada, Cabrillo National Monument and Point Loma Lighthouse (and the tide pools there), and Sunset Cliffs. Lately I've often found it is worth the drive to the Charlotte airport for cheaper fares (and parking) than you get in Knoxville. I didn't try that with this trip because of the potential for bad weather, but if it is at a time that weather should be fine, I'll make that drive to save $300.

I always check Nashville and Atlanta but I never thought to try Charlotte! Thanks for the idea.

>40 leahbird: I only check Atlanta as a last resort. I don't mind flying though ATL, but I hate starting out there. Of course, ATL is further for me.

Atlanta is my preferred airport if not flying out of Knoxville simply because I have friends in Atlanta. I can visit with them, leave my car at their house and save parking fees, and get a ride to the airport. ;)

5. The Griff by Christopher Moore and Ian Corson


Description: The always outrageous Christopher Moore—New York Times bestselling author of Bite Me, Lamb, You Suck, The Stupidest Angel, and a host of other prime cuts of literary hilarity—joins forces with award-winning screenwriter and director Ian Corson to bring you The Griff. An absurdly entertaining graphic novel about alien invasion—in the grand tradition of Cowboys and Aliens, but considerably more ridiculous—The Griff is vintage Chris Moore…with pictures! Get ready for thrills, chills, and a chain-smoking professional squirrel, in this high-octane tale of the infestation of Earth by extraterrestrial interlopers and the motley crew of humans who save the world…sort of.

Thoughts: I really love a lot of Christopher Moore's books. He's pretty much an instant buy author for me. For whatever reason, I never picked up Th Griff, Moore's foray into graphic novels, when it came out in 2011.

Too bad I decided I really needed to remedy that. Thank god I found this at a second had store and only paid $11 for it. Too bad that was about $9 too many.

This is really, really bad. Not the concept, the concept is fine I think. But everything else is bad. The characters are cliche at best and or just downright stupid. There is NO character depth or development. The dialog is cheesy and surprisingly incomplete in places. Like, I had to reread sections because I thought I'd missed a speech bubble, but no, conversations just stopped mid thought.

But the WORST is the pacing. If you didn't know on an intelligent level that traveling from New York to Florida by foot, boat, and tank would take a few weeks, you could easily assume that everything in The Griff takes places in a single day. That's about how much character development there is so I won't blame you if you choose to just run with it. I can't stress enough how completely terrible the pacing is here. Things just HAPPEN, at random, and rarely does an action actually have a beginning, middle, and end. Here's an example, with slight spoilers but you really shouldn't read this book so don't worry about that.

The New York characters decide they need to go to Florida where they think some resistance is fighting back. One of them remembers that there is a SUBMARINE at an aquarium at the wharf. The video game developer magically knows everything about it, including operations and life support, because she toured it once. She mentions that they can travel underwater for 16 hours on battery and indefinitely on diesel on the surface. But to not get killed they have to travel underwater, the ENTIRE reason they got the damn sub. Cut to two pages later and they are making a stop in Virginia FOR DIESEL even though they've been underwater THE ENTIRE TIME.

They stop, make a joke about poptarts, see someone get snatched, and get back on the ship. Not kidding. Two pages. This is the TOTAL plot for an entire section of travel.

OHH, then they get to Charleston, SC, and magically find a hot spring in a building and take a naked soak. WTF?!?

The action from commandeering the sub in New York until the naked soak in Charleston is only 14 pages. 14 pages in which we learn exactly one thing about one character and it's stupid. That takes up 3 whole pages and it's completely useless.

The story jumps back and forth between the NY group and the FL group with no indication of the amount of time that has passed. You know time is passing for the NY group simply by the fact that they are traveling, but FL really could all be happening on the same day because none of it makes any sense. I mean, I thought there were PAGES missing from SEVERAL sections because it made so little sense. I mean, LIKE NO SENSE.

It's just all so very bad. They wrote this as a movie and then decided it would make a great graphic novel. Wrong. Maybe they should have had someone who actually writes graphic novels work with them to explain how to build a story. Because I obviously can't stress enough how bad they failed at that here. SO BAD.

A word about the art: The drawing is actually good, but it too suffers from terrible pacing and story boarding. There are actions scenes that are completely unfollowable. You know that the characters are being attacked and they are attempting to fight back, but it's mainly screaming heads and some KABLAM kind of word bubbles and then something else is happening but you still can't figure out what was going on in that scene. Dumb.

Rating: 2

Liked: 2
Plot: 2
Characterization: 2
Writing: 1
Art: 3

Inspired by how good Nimona and Alex + Ada were (and totally ignoring The Griff) I just got Alex + Ada Vol 2, Lumberjanes Vol 1, and The Wicked + The Divine Vol 1 delivered today. But now I don't know where to start!

Well, dang. I love Moore and I'm sorry to hear that The Griff is so awful.

>45 scaifea: I was pretty surprised. Some of his books have been misses for me, but none of them have been bad exactly. This was a huge disappointment. ;(

6. Lumberjanes Vol 1: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, and Grace Ellis


Description: Five best friends spending the summer at Lumberjane scout camp...defeating yetis, three-eyed wolves, and giant falcons...what’s not to love?!

Friendship to the max! Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five best pals determined to have an awesome summer together...and they’re not gonna let any insane quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! Not only is it the second title launching in our new BOOM! Box imprint but LUMBERJANES is one of those punk rock, love-everything-about-it stories that appeals to fans of basically all excellent things. It’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Gravity Falls and features five butt-kicking, rad teenage girls wailing on monsters and solving a mystery with the whole world at stake. And with the talent of acclaimed cartoonist Noelle Stevenson, talented newcomer Grace Ellis writing, and Brooke Allen on art, this is going to be a spectacular series that you won’t want to miss. Collects Lumberjanes #1-#4.

Thoughts: Lumberjanes is so good! The art is awesome and the characters are perfect and the story is delightfully weird and wonderful!

The only missing element is a bit of character backstory and exploration. It feels a little bit like you're jumping into episode 2, having missed the scenes where everyone meets and introduces themselves and establishes their friendship. It's not insurmountable, but I think it'd feel more fleshed and personal if it was included.

Otherwise it's perfect! Even the way it's presented as pasted into the Lumberjane Scouts handbook is great. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4.33

Liked: 4.5
Plot: 4.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Art: 4.5

7. The Wicked + The Divine, Vol 1: The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen


Description: Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. The team behind critically thermonuclear floor-fillers Young Avengers and Phonogram reunite to start a new, ongoing, superhero fantasy with a beautiful, oversized issue. Welcome to The Wicked + The Divine, where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are the ultimate gods. But remember: just because you're immortal, doesn't mean you're going to live forever. Collects The Wicked + The Divine #1-5.

Thoughts: This is a really interesting premise! There were some surprises for me early on: I assumed the Gods would be more incognito, but nope, they are out and proud. And, because of that, I thought this would be a story amongst the Gods, but it's much more about the ramifications of being a God in our modern, pop culture obsessed world, with insane fans and all the scrutiny that brings.

There really needed to be more clarity on the different gods as they got a bit confusing, especially the ones not directly involved in this storyline. And I wish there had been a little more of Cassandra and her explanation about the history of The Recurrence. But ultimately, I rather enjoyed this volume and look forward to those issues maybe being addresses in future volumes. I really enjoyed the twist at the end, one I only saw coming as I started the very last pages. I'm not typically a twist kind of reader but this one was good. Except for the fact that Luci was awesome and I'm disappointed she's already gone.

Jamie Mckelvie's art is PERFECT for this story. It's beautiful and luscious. The visual pacing, character details, and interpersonal play is really well done. I'm definitely going to be looking for more of his work.

Here's the 2 page preview spread that does a REALLY good job of teasing the story and letting you enjoy Mckelvie's art.



Rating: 4.33

Liked: 4.5
Plot: 4
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Art: 5

8. Alex + Ada, Vol 2 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn


Description: In the second volume of this hit series, tensions rise between humans and robots in this sci-fi/drama set in the near future. Alex took a huge risk to unlock Ada and it seems to have paid off - Ada can now think for herself and explore life as a sentient android. As Alex and Ada spend more time together, they become closer. But as restrictions tighten on androids, Ada feels unsure about her place in Alex's life and the world. Collects Alex + Ada #6-10

Thoughts: Still a very slow burn even though the overarching plot moves along quite a bit in this volume. Just as good as the last but not gush worthy yet.

Rating: 3.75

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Art: 4

>48 leahbird: I've been wanting to read this series. Sounds like it is worth trying!



Happy reading this weekend!

>50 tapestry100: David, I just got the next two volumes (and Vol 2 of Lumberjanes) in today! That's all that's available in collected volumes at the moment and hopefully the quality holds up.

9. The Wicked + The Divine, Vol 2: Fandemonium by Kieron Gillen


Description: The second volume of the award-winning urban fantasy series where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are the ultimate gods. Following the tragic and unjust death of Lucifer, it takes a revelation from Inanna to draw Laura back into the worlds of Gods and Superstardom to try and discover the truth behind a conspiracy to subvert divinity. Includes issues #6-11 of the series.

Thoughts: Well, that was a quick bubble burst. This one is no where near as good as the first one. The story line pretty much continues in a satisfying way but there is something really weird going on with the writing and structure. This volume feels rather disjointed and spastic. I had a hard time figuring out what was going on in several scenes or even really following the action at all. When I was reading it I was pretty disappointed. Looking back after finishing it, I see the story line clearer and still think it's successful in that regard but that didn't really make it good enough.

And I guess I'm doomed to be robbed of my favorite characters at the end of each volume! I can't believe Gillen let us believe Laura WASN'T pantheon and then reveled that she was Persephone (not Lucifer as we thought) JUST TO KILL HER! Not cool.

Rating: 3.5

Liked: 3
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 3.5
Writing: 3
Art: 5

10. The Wicked + The Divine, Vol 3: Commercial Suicide by Kieron Gillen


Description: After the detonation of FANDEMONIUM the gods-as-pop-stars of THE WICKED + THE DIVINE try living in the long dark shadow. Team WicDiv are joined by a stellar cast of guest artists to put the spotlight of each of the gods. The multiple Eisner-award nominated series continues in the only way it knows how: darker, weirder, faster. Don't worry. It's going to be okay. Collects issues 12-17.

Thoughts: This was better than Vol 2 in a story telling sense. Rather than press on with the plot in the same fashion from the previous two volumes, this one slows the story down to focus on the gods themselves. Each chapter does progress the main story a bit, but it does it by revealing backstory and pertinent inside information about the gods. It's enjoyable even if some of the chapters are a bit short.

The MAJOR downside is that Jamie Mckelvie's amazing art is missing from the whole volume. He was apparently pulled away by something else and so they brought in guest artists, a different one for each chapter. There isn't anything particularly bad about the art, it's just not right here. Mckelvies art sets the PERFECT tone to this story and these guest artists don't fit. It's a shame.

Rating: 3.75

Liked: 4
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Art: 3

11. Lumberjanes, Vol 2: Friendship to the Max by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, and Grace Ellis


Description: Friendship to the max!

Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five best pals determined to have an awesome summer together...and they’re not gonna let any insane quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! But having stumbled onto a mysterious force wreaking havoc in the camp, it’s a race through the woods as the Lumberjanes work together to save not only their friends, but maybe even the whole world!

It’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Gravity Falls and features five butt-kicking, rad teenage girls wailing on monsters and solving a mystery with the whole world at stake. And with the talent of acclaimed cartoonist Noelle Stevenson, talented newcomer Grace Ellis writing, and Brooke Allen on art, the spectacular series that took the internet by storm continues!

Thoughts: Continuing crazy, supernatural, punk rock adventures of the awesome Lumberjanes! This series is just so fun. Not a disappointment.

Rating: 4.33

Liked: 4.5
Plot: 4.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Art: 4.5

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thanks Rachel!

Leah, my dear, I hope you are well. Also, hi, I'm back, it's been a... while, yeah. But what's a year between friends?

Tell me I am forgiven, because I am so excited that you are reading lots of graphic novels and trades and such. I JUST picked up The Wicked + The Divine volumes 1-3 the other day, so I'm delighted to see that you liked them. I need to get Lumberjanes as well. Have you read Strong Female Protagonist yet? I just finished that and really enjoyed it.

Seems like this is the Year of the Comic so far. I blame David. But that's only because I can.

Hugs!

*Hugs* Hope you are well, Leah. :)

>58 beserene: HI SARAH! Glad to see you here. There's nothing to forgive, friend, things happen. I haven't been as chatty in the past year myself. I seem to go through runs of graphic novel reading and there are just so many good ones right now. I haven't read Strong Female Protagonist but I'll check it out.

>59 Ape: Well, just boring. ;)

Ah, well, same here.

*monotone voice* Hurray for us...woohoo...

>60 leahbird: Well, the two of us can just not-really-chat together. :)

You are so right about there being lots of good graphic novels (and indie comics in general) out right now. I've really be getting back into them. Right now I am staring down a small stack and thinking that Bitch Planet might be my next read.

Also,there is something to be said for boring. Often, it leads to reading time! I hope it is for you currently. :)

Hi Leah! I just tried my first graphic novels a couple of weekends ago, and I'll be on the lookout for more like them. I read Boxers and Saints about China's Boxer Rebellion. Persepolis is next on my list to try.

>63 cbl_tn: Ooh, thanks for reminding me -- I have Boxers & Saints somewhere in my stack too. I need to get back to that one. Those and Persepolis are excellent choices!

Persepolis is certainly worth all the praise it has gotten. One of my favorites!

12. Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (read by Kate Reading)


Description: The thrilling adventure of Lady Trent continues in Marie Brennan's Voyage of the Basilisk . . .

Devoted readers of Lady Trent's earlier memoirs, A Natural History of Dragons and The Tropic of Serpents, may believe themselves already acquainted with the particulars of her historic voyage aboard the Royal Survey Ship Basilisk, but the true story of that illuminating, harrowing, and scandalous journey has never been revealed―until now.

Six years after her perilous exploits in Eriga, Isabella embarks on her most ambitious expedition yet: a two-year trip around the world to study all manner of dragons in every place they might be found. From feathered serpents sunning themselves in the ruins of a fallen civilization to the mighty sea serpents of the tropics, these creatures are a source of both endless fascination and frequent peril. Accompanying her is not only her young son, Jake, but a chivalrous foreign archaeologist whose interests converge with Isabella's in ways both professional and personal.
Science is, of course, the primary objective of the voyage, but Isabella's life is rarely so simple. She must cope with storms, shipwrecks, intrigue, and warfare, even as she makes a discovery that offers a revolutionary new insight into the ancient history of dragons.

Thoughts: This is my favorite of the Isabella's adventure thus far! I think that is partly due to the fact that Kate Reading is an exceptionally good reader for Lady Trent. Her other voices are good, but she embodied Isabella so perfectly!

Otherwise, this installment managed to do what some of Naomi Novik's books couldn't do, and that was to make a long sea voyage actually interesting. Nothing was built up too much and even though they were in some places quite briefly, it never felt unduly rushed or overlooked. There was lots of science and adventure and politics and culture! It was great fun.

The longest section, in Keonga, was particularly fun for me because of it's obvious basis in Melanesia/Polynesia. Many of the customs were familiar from my time in New Zealand and my study of Maori, Fijian, and Samoan cultures. The way the Keongans greeted/challenged the foreigners upon arrival is exactly what I experienced every time I visited a new marae. The concept of tapu is an exact appropriation and the use of ta moko (facial tattoos) is another clear link. What I appreciated most, however, is that Brennan doesn't glamorize or fetishize the islanders or allow her characters to judge them by their personal mores. The stories of Heali'i and Liluakame were some of my favorite parts!

And then there is Suhail. He is dreamy! I hope that the hinted at future romance with him does happen. What a good pair they make!

I would have liked some more in depth study of some dragon species, but I'm no longer disappointed by this. I've accepted that this isn't something akin to Dragonology, but rather more like my beloved Amelia Peabody with dragons instead of Egyptology!

Rating: 4

Liked: 4
Plot: 4
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Audio: 4

I've been listening to the Hamilton Musical soundtrack in the car the past few days and I think I'm going to straight up count this as an audiobook. This sucker is dense! 46 songs FULL of historical information. Yep, I'm gonna count it.

Also, it totally kicks ass. I'm not much of a hip-hop fan but this just works perfectly.

Happy spring Leah!

Dropping in to say hello as I'm off to catch up on other threads! Hope things are going well down your way!

Have a wonderful Easter.

Nimona was one of my favorite reads last year. I've been trying to borrow LumberJanes from the library, but apparently there is only one library in wester Montana that has it, and that library isn't loaning it out. :-(

Happy Easter! May the bunny be good to you!

Thanks Rachel, Lori, Paul, and streamsong! Things are pretty decent around here, just boring. The beautiful flowering trees have had me down for the count the past several days. Stupid allergies. Missed Easter lunch this year and last because of it, but hopefully I'll be good until hay season starts in a couple of months. :(

13. Lumberjanes Vol 3 by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, and Grace Ellis


Description: This New York Times Bestselling series continues with Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley as they take on everything that goes bump in the night. From scary stories to magical portals that lead to a land untouched by time, it's definitely not your average summer.

Thoughts: Another wonderful installment, as is to be expected at this point. They slow the pace down a little and do some more normal campy things and break the group up to have separate adventures a bit so there's some good character development.

Can't wait for the next one!

Rating: 4.33

Liked: 4.5
Plot: 4.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Art: 4.5

My reading has dropped of pretty significantly lately, mostly because I've not been able to score any of the books I was interested in on audio and enjoy in the car. It's also a little bit because I've been embroidering like a crazy person and I can't concentrate on a book while doing that, so I watch tv instead. I've got to get this quilt done by the end of May or it will be really embarrassing... It's a wedding gift for my brother and SIL... who got married LAST May. If I give it to them on their anniversary than I can pull it off without looking pathetic, but after that it's just sad.

In other news, I decided not to count just listening to Hamilton as reading, but then I picked up Hamilton: The Revolution, so I'm listening to the soundtrack as I read and IT'S AWESOME. The book is just super cool. Hopefully review coming soon.

Hi Leah! Good luck with the quilt project. 'M sure your brother and SIL will love it whenever it's finished!

Is it as gorgeous over your way as it is here? The weather the last two days has been perfect! I've had Adrian out on a long walk and now he's snoozing on the back of the sofa!

It's AMAZING weather and I'm stuck at work. ;( Hopefully it'll still be nice tomorrow when I'm off and the pollen load won't be outrageous so I can sit outside and embroider.

>74 leahbird: You must post a photo once you finish, either before or after delivery will be fine! I really want to cross-stitch, but I don't have enough time at the moment. I've got a few other things hanging over my head.

>78 thornton37814: I post pics to Instagram of the squares I've finished (not nearly enough) if you want to watch the progress. Message me if you are interested and I'll send you my handle. But I'll definitely post the completed project once it's worthy of the name.

Here's a picture of what life is like right now. I was embroidering (instead of reading) and Charlie decided that I'd been ignoring him quite enough. Just before this, he ripped the thread out of my hand and tried to eat the very large (and sharp) milliner's needle I prefer but, luckily, I stopped him. So then he tried to eat the hoop.

Adorable! :)

14. The Magicians by Lev Grossman (read by Mark Bramhall)


Description: Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A high school math genius, he’s secretly fascinated with a series of children’s fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory, and real life is disappointing by comparison. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to an elite, secret college of magic, it looks like his wildest dreams have come true. But his newfound powers lead him down a rabbit hole of hedonism and disillusionment, and ultimately to the dark secret behind the story of Fillory. The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.

The prequel to the New York Times bestselling book The Magician King and the #1 bestseller The Magician's Land, The Magicians is one of the most daring and inventive works of literary fantasy in years. No one who has escaped into the worlds of Narnia and Harry Potter should miss this breathtaking return to the landscape of the imagination.

Thoughts: I was prompted to revisit this story when the SyFy tv adaptation was imminent, but I didn't get around to it before the show started. I really, really enjoyed the show but there were several elements I felt were different from the books and I wanted to see if I remembered them correctly. Turns out the show was a lot closer to the book than I was remembering.

And, that my opinion of the book has completely changed in the 6 years since I first read it. Here is my review from 2010:

The Magicians is the grown up (well, college) version of all those classic magical fantasy tales, Harry Potter set in college meets Narnia if CS Lewis was a much more demented individual.

This book breaks up pretty neatly into two major sections- what I would call the Harry Potter section and then the Narnia section. The Harry Potter section covers the character's getting their education at a college of magic. It really is quite wonderful. Since 4 years have to be fit into 220 pages, there tends to be a lot of leaping forward narratively, which can be a tad annoying when you are really enjoying what is there and want more of it. But that is made up for by the wonderful imagery that Grossman achieves. I could have kept reading that section for many many more pages.

As I reached the middle of the book, I was really, really enjoying the story. And then there came a point where I just thought, 'huh?' The second half of this book, the Narnia section, just goes off in a totally different, and strange, direction (not that the first 1/2 wasn't a little strange...). Granted, there is a decent chunk of fairly unnecessary relationship and life angst to slog through in transition from HP to Narnia, but once the adventure really starts in the Narnia section, I almost didn't care what happened.

Almost. I was still pretty invested in the characters (and the plot) up until nearly the end, but not because of what was going on at that time. I was just hoping for an interesting resolution, something that managed to bring back the wonderful spark that the first 1/2 had. I didn't find it. If anything, it just spiraled into more strange, pointless territory until a rather bizarre and underwhelming ending.

That review is pretty poorly written. Hopefully I've gotten better (but I doubt it).

This time around, I found myself disappointed with the first half of the book. There is still a lot of wonderful imagery and foundation there, but it is the definition of a gloss over. Months and years just seem to be completely ignored between one conversation or activity and the next. There is no time to linger over character development or to invest in the workings of magic. It is more a string of plot points, moving us at warp speed through 4 years of magical education, friendship building, and foreshadowing.

In this regard, the tv show is infinitely superior. They condense 4 years into a few months or a year at most (it's not entirely clear). Compressing all the events from the first section of the book into such a short time frame makes PERFECT sense and resolves so many of the issues. They do spend more time on character and relationship development and backstory, which is great, but the shorter time span also allows for the unfamiliarity of the characters to work in the story's favor. It's all a heady rush of learning magic is real and getting swept up in what that really means , ie, not sunshine and rainbows but still some really incredible things.

The main players in the book are Quentin, Alice, Janet (called Margot in the show), Elliot, and, to a lesser extent, Josh. Julia pops up in unexpected places, but is mostly absent. The greatest things the show did for itself were choosing to pilfer Julia's story from the next book and dropping Josh (sorry Josh) to elevate Penny to the main storyline from the beginning (I dare you to not love show Penny). The addition of Kady was pretty great too.

Things I thought were different in the show that ended up actually being pretty true to the book:
- Plover sexually abusing Martin: I didn't remember this tidbit at all. I assumed it was a liberty taken by the writers that was depressing but gave the story some weight and explained why Martin became the Beast very handily. To be fair, the fact is only mentioned in one sentence by Jane very near the end of the book, so it's not a fact as forefront as it is in the show. The choice to devote an episode earlyish in the season to this was very smart of the production team and provided a nice bit of misdirection on who the bad guy really was.

- The Time Travel Aspect: When it was revealed that the events taking place in the show were just the 29th (I think) time Jane had sent them all back in time to try again, I once again thought this was a clever bit of showbiz magic to make the inconsistencies in the story between page and screen instantly explainable (and I read several articles that supported my belief in this). But then that same conversation with Jane near the end of the book reminded me that this was in the book all along. She goes even further, saying that Quentin and his friends aren't even the only ones she's tried this with.

The things that weren't exactly true to the book were extremely effective in the telling of the story for the show and except for some problematic themes in the last episode (which covers the last half of the book almost in it's entirety) made for a superb first season.

Where before I really disliked the second half of the book, this time around it was the part that enthralled me the most. There is still that little bridge section of really annoying and mostly needless angst and wound licking, but once they are in Fillory, the story felt fresher and more immediate. It certainly helps that this section only takes place over the span of maybe a few weeks for the most part (before once again jumping a few years in a few pages). This feels like an actual plot instead of an outline. There were several needless characters that I had forgotten about but the didn't really detract from anything so they didn't bother me. I was just so pleased to be listening to something that felt like it had weight after so many hours of the walking tour of magical education. Yes, there's still a lot of pouring salt in one's own wounds for a while, but it didn't distract me as much this time. It certainly didn't hurt that I have read the other books in the series and knew that Fillory was going to be the main theme for the rest of the journey.

The show also really did itself a service by peppering the idea of Fillory much sooner and much more heavily throughout it's narrative. It's a reference point in the book but it's not nearly as clear that it's affect is so strong. By making Fillory so present in what I called the "Harry Potter section," there isn't the weird dissonance I felt upon reading this the first time. I mean, even if you hadn't read the book and knew what was coming, the show made it pretty clear that the thrill (and then threat) of Fillory was looming for these characters pretty early on.

And then there is the last episode of the show. While watching it, I was convinced it was my favorite episode. It wasn't as true to the book but it was funny and the changes were very interesting. At first. When it seemed like Julia's experience with a god hadn't been the horrifying and tragic experience she tells Quentin about in the second book, I was really confused about where they were going with it, but certainly not sad that Julia had escaped that particular fate. I wasn't disappointed that they were shoehorning Julia into the first Fillory adventure either because it wouldn't have made sense to leave her out when the show put so much focus on her. And I loved that they were going to Fillory knowing shit was going to be hard and terrifying instead of going because it sounded like fun and a good distraction from everyone being awful.

And then Eliot got engaged. To some random girl. I mean, the scenes were funny and well played, but why are we sacrificing our fabulous gay character (even if he is broken and miserable) to a straight marriage? Eliot and all of us deserve better.

The twist that Ember reinstates Julia's memory because he's an oblivious douche god who thinks he's helping was so spot on for this show. And the flashback to what really happened to Julia and her friends was tastefully handled, even if it's still totally repugnant. Marina finally proved to have a useful purpose other than to help screw everything up in the beginning. Repurposing the useless Richard character from the book into Julia's friend that is now possessed by Reynard the Fox (and presumably going to have a major role in season 2) was a great idea.

And Ember was pretty awesome and hilarious. But then they went and yucked it up by insisting that we needed a jar of ram god sperm to make someone in the group powerful enough to kill The Beast. AND NATURALLY IT ENDED UP BEING ALICE WHO WAS FUCKING STRONG AND SELFLESS ENOUGH ALL ON HER OWN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

The action leading up to and including the final showdown with The Beast is very long in the book, something the characters really had to work for, even though they didn't know that's exactly what they were walking into. On the show, it's incredibly brief. They more or less stick to the outcomes for each character (with the exception that we don't know if Alice is dead, her not burning up into a niffin and all). EXCEPT that they use the fact that Julia was raped by Reynard to flip the story and make Julia betray everyone in order to use Martin to help her get revenge on Reynard/Richard.

So, not only is the entire conclusion of the action changed (ie, Martin isn't vanquished, ushering in peace in Fillory and leading to the plot of the other books), but now you have a molested boy turning into a killing machine and a raped woman betraying her friends, by which she gets them maimed or killed, so that she can satisfy her own need for retribution. The only two characters who are sexual abuse victims are now ruthless, coldhearted, bad guys? NOPE. DISLIKE.

OH, and the only reason that Alice and Julia have the power to wield the knife that can kill The Beast is because of GOD SPERM? Way to disempower these two badass magicians by negating their female power and claiming that they needed some jizz all along to really make them powerful. SERIOUS NOPE.

And then it's over. Julia and Martin fuck off, presumably to Earth to find Reynard/Richard and kill him and everyone else is injured, dying, or maybe dead and the show is over. Where they go from here is sooooo very unpredictable. This is such a huge change from the books that I can only assume they are mostly throwing them out the window going forward.

I hope the show comes back for another season. I hope they find a way to redeem what feel like huge mistakes in the last episode. It was SOOOO good until then. One of the best shows currently on and certainly one of the best adaptations. But it could go so wrong from this point.

In conclusion: My first read, I loved the first half and hated the second. Watching the show I loved everything that happened up until the last episode, which is roughly the equivalent of loving the first half and hating the second. But my second read/listen, I was disappointed with the first half and rather pleased with the second. Mostly, I seem to be destined to always be conflicted about this story.

Rating: 3.75

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Audio: 4

Show Rating: 4.38
Liked: 4.5
Acting: 5
Adaptation: 4 (would have been 5 without the last episode)
Look: 4

I know it is only temporary, but that is the single largest wall of spoiler text in the history of the universe!

>83 Ape: Um, now that it's posted, it's not much better. It looks like redacted Homeland Security documents. Most of what is spoilered out is about the TV show. Didn't want to ruin anything for anyone who hasn't watched it yet.

ETA: It's also possible the longest review ever.

Excellent analysis! I mean to reread the first book (and then read the sequels, which I never have) but I seem to have misplaced it. Whoops!

I've been "currently reading" it since January 30th! The loan expired along the way and it took me quite a while to come back up in the queue. I finished The Magicians in the car on the way to work today and then went straight into The Magician King, which handily was available. I remember really liking this one so I hope it holds up (and that the show gets back into line when it -- fingers crossed -- comes back next season).

I didn't know there's a TV show. What's it called?

>87 The_Hibernator: It's The Magician's on SyFy. It was seriously good for 12 out of 13 episodes.

My friend Lauren is featured on Book Riot's "Read This, Then That" today!

http://bookriot.com/?p=97144

Happy new week!

>89 leahbird: Very cool!

Stopping by to wish you a lovely weekend, Leah.

>90 The_Hibernator: Thanks!

>91 scaifea: Super cool. I got a contact buzz just because it was someone I know!

>92 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul! I finished a book today, so it's going pretty good. ;)

15. The Magician King by Lev Grossman (read by Mark Bramhall)


Description: Quentin Coldwater should be happy. He escaped a miserable Brooklyn childhood, matriculated at a secret college for magic, and graduated to discover that Fillory—a fictional utopia—was actually real. But even as a Fillorian king, Quentin finds little peace. His old restlessness returns, and he longs for the thrills a heroic quest can bring.

Accompanied by his oldest friend, Julia, Quentin sets off—only to somehow wind up back in the real world and not in Fillory, as they'd hoped. As the pair struggle to find their way back to their lost kingdom, Quentin is forced to rely on Julia's illicitly-learned sorcery as they face a sinister threat in a world very far from the beloved fantasy novels of their youth.

Thoughts: I remembered really liking this installment of the Magicians story and I wasn't disappointed upon rereading it. A lot of the love I have is for Julia's story, even though it's messed up and tragic.

I wish that the TV show was solidly headed in the direction of this story, but I have no idea where they are going with it. The story of Outer and After Islands and the quest for the keys could be very interesting onscreen.

Rating: 4

Liked: 4
Plot: 4
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Audio: 4

16. In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan (read by Kate Reading)


Description: In the Labyrinth of Drakes: the thrilling new book in the acclaimed fantasy series from Marie Brennan, as the glamorous Lady Trent takes her adventurous explorations to the deserts of Akhia.

Even those who take no interest in the field of dragon naturalism have heard of Lady Trent's expedition to the inhospitable deserts of Akhia. Her discoveries there are the stuff of romantic legend, catapulting her from scholarly obscurity to worldwide fame. The details of her personal life during that time are hardly less private, having provided fodder for gossips in several countries.

As is so often the case in the career of this illustrious woman, the public story is far from complete. In this, the fourth volume of her memoirs, Lady Trent relates how she acquired her position with the Royal Scirling Army; how foreign saboteurs imperiled both her work and her well-being; and how her determined pursuit of knowledge took her into the deepest reaches of the Labyrinth of Drakes, where the chance action of a dragon set the stage for her greatest achievement yet.

Thoughts: Another solid installment in the tales of Lady Trent! This one is a bit lighter on the dragonology (but not much) and heavier on the political, cultural, and personal happenings, but it's still a lot of fun to tag along with Isabella and Tom whatever they are doing.

I will admit that, given the setting of the story, I was sure we would be bumping into Suhail at some point and I was not disappointed. I was a tiny bit surprised that they got married as soon as they did, as I was sure the books were going to drag that story out a while, but I am thrilled that the rest of the books in the series will probably include Isabella, Tom, AND Suhail, my favorite dragon/archeology exploring team! And hopefully Andrew too because he's a superb brother!

As always, look forward to the next adventure!

Rating: 3.83

Liked: 4
Plot: 3
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Audio: 4

It's my 8th Thingaversary today! I actually remembered! I did buy some books today, for my godkids and niece. They are getting The Thank You Book by Mo Willems because Piggy and Gerald are the best.

Happy Thingaversary! :D

Happy Thingaversary, Leah! I celebrated my 8th Thingaversary last week. I bought 7 books at Powell's, then two more books with an Amazon gift card for my 8 + 1. Then I went to the Friends of the Library used book sale this afternoon and bought 5 more!

Happy Thingaversary!! And what a great way to celebrate - Elephant and Piggie *are* the best!

>99 scaifea: So many of the books I've read with my niece and godkids are boring for an adult, but Piggy and Gerald are so entertaining without being crass. Our fav around here is We Are In a Book! but all of them are good. My godkids went as Piggy and Gerald for Halloween last year!

>95 leahbird: Nice review!

>100 leahbird: We Are in a Book! is one of our favorites, too, but this latest and last one is *amazing*!

I owe myself several reviews and since I'm stuck at work AND NO SELF RESPECTING AMERICAN IS AT THE MALL TODAY, I'm gonna tackle some of them!

17. The Magician's Land by Lev Grossman (read by Mark Bramhall)


Description: Quentin Coldwater has been cast out of Fillory, the secret magical land of his childhood dreams. With nothing left to lose he returns to where his story began, the Brakebills Preparatory College of Magic. But he can’t hide from his past, and it’s not long before it comes looking for him.

Along with Plum, a brilliant young undergraduate with a dark secret of her own, Quentin sets out on a crooked path through a magical demimonde of gray magic and desperate characters. But all roads lead back to Fillory, and his new life takes him to old haunts, like Antarctica, and to buried secrets and old friends he thought were lost forever. He uncovers the key to a sorcery masterwork, a spell that could create magical utopia, a new Fillory—but casting it will set in motion a chain of events that will bring Earth and Fillory crashing together. To save them he will have to risk sacrificing everything.

The Magician’s Land is an intricate thriller, a fantastical epic, and an epic of love and redemption that brings the Magicians trilogy to a magnificent conclusion, confirming it as one of the great achievements in modern fantasy. It’s the story of a boy becoming a man, an apprentice becoming a master, and a broken land finally becoming whole.

Thoughts: I finished my reread/listen of this a month ago... I know I had more interesting things to say than I can remember to say now. I still enjoyed this book, especially the new character of Plum. I like that we see and learn even more of Fillory via Elliot and Janet's wanderings. I love that Alice gets to come back to us. Good all around.

Rating: 3.83

Liked: 4
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 4

18. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery (read by Kate Burton)


Description: A skinny, red-haired, and freckled orphan girl is mistakenly sent to live with a shy, elderly bachelor and his spinster sister on the north shore of Canada's Prince Edward Island; The elderly siblings had asked to adopt a young boy who could work on the family farm, but the imaginitive and rambunctious Anne Shirley arrives instead, and becomes the center of a series of entertaining adventures.

Thoughts: I read this book sometime in my childhood but only had the vague memory of it that most people do since it is such a staple of children's literature. I finally decided to reread it and the rest of the series, motivated by a recent spat of reviews popping up on LT. As I remembered, Anne is a delight and her adventures (and many misadventures) are charming.

I was struck as an adult how episodic these books are. Rather than being a real plot driven story, the story wanders through Anne's life and just highlights little vignettes of activity. I don't feel like this allows many of the supporting characters to develop as they deserve, especially Matthew, but the story remains charming all the same.

I was really impressed, however, that a book written in 1908 put such stock in girls attending college and being independent in not only their careers but in their lives. I didn't remember that bit at all!

Rating: 3.58

Liked: 4
Plot: 3
Characterization: 3
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 4

19. Anne of Avonlea by LM Montgomery (read by Shelly Fraiser)


Description: At sixteen Anne is grown up. . . almost. Her gray eyes shine like evening stars, but her red hair is still as peppery as her temper. In the years since she arrived at Green Gables as a freckle-faced orphan, she has earned the love of the people of Avonlea and a reputation for getting into scrapes. But when Anne begins her job as the new schoolteacher, the real test of her character begins. Along with teaching the three Rs, she is learning how complicated life can be when she meddles in someone else's romance, finds two new orphans at Green Gables, and wonders about the strange behavior of the very handsome Gilbert Blythe. As Anne enters womanhood, her adventures touch the heart and the funny bone.

Thoughts: Anne the Teacher is delightful as usual. This installment looses a bit of the charm simply by being a bit too repetitive in it's episodic nature.

Rating: 3.42

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3
Characterization: 3.5
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 3.5

20. Anne of the Island by LM Montgomery (read by Renee Raudman)


Description: New adventures lie ahead as Anne Shirley packs her bags, waves good-bye to childhood, and heads for Redmond College. With old friend Prissy Grant waiting in the bustling city of Kingsport and frivolous new pal Philippa Gordon at her side, Anne tucks her memories of rural Avonlea away and discovers life on her own terms, filled with surprises...including a marriage proposal from the worst fellow imaginable, the sale of her very first story, and a tragedy that teaches her a painful lesson. But tears turn to laughter when Anne and her friends move into an old cottage and an ornery black cat steals her heart. Little does Anne know that handsome Gilbert Blythe wants to win her heart, too. Suddenly Anne must decide if she's ready for love...

Thoughts: A nice change here in that we get to see Anne discovering who she is away from Avonlea. There are a couple of high points in the plot, but I was totally distracted by the addition of a character to Anne, Prissy, and Philippa's living arrangements that then was hardly ever mentioned again. Like the others, there is just too much jumping forward to allow good character development.

Rating: 3.33

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3
Characterization: 3
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 3.5

21. League of Dragons by Naomi Novik (read by Simon Vance)


Description: Napoleon’s invasion of Russia has been roundly thwarted. But even as Capt. William Laurence and the dragon Temeraire pursue the retreating enemy through an unforgiving winter, Napoleon is raising a new force, and he’ll soon have enough men and dragons to resume the offensive. While the emperor regroups, the allies have an opportunity to strike first and defeat him once and for all—if internal struggles and petty squabbles don’t tear them apart.

Aware of his weakened position, Napoleon has promised the dragons of every country—and the ferals, loyal only to themselves—vast new rights and powers if they fight under his banner. It is an offer eagerly embraced from Asia to Africa—and even by England, whose dragons have long rankled at their disrespectful treatment.

But Laurence and his faithful dragon soon discover that the wily Napoleon has one more gambit at the ready—one that that may win him the war, and the world.

Thoughts: A very enjoyable if somewhat predictable ending to this really fun series. Temeraire is just the most lovely fellow and I could read about his exploits for ages. I really would love one more book that details Temeraire's adventures in politics and as a force for change for dragonkind in a world that can no longer ignore them. It's a nice life to imagine for so many of the great dragons in this series.

Rating: 4

Liked: 4
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 4.5
Writing: 4
Audio: 4

Happy 4th! I'm sorry you're stuck at work. I'm working at home today, going through some boxes of my father's books. I'll be listening to the audio of Anne of Green Gables later this month. L.M. Montgomery is one of this month's Canadian Author Challenge featured authors, so there may be a few more reading or listening to this one. I've read it before, but it was a long time ago.

>107 cbl_tn: If you are listening to Kate Burton's reading, she's quite good. There were several to choose from on Overdrive and I sampled each to find the best one I could. I'd love to hear Katherine Kellgren read Anne (well, read everything) but Kate Burton is a narrator I've listened to before and enjoyed both times.

ETA: Unfortunately, I couldn't find a series with the same narrator throughout. I hate that!

I'm listening to the reading that was offered in the Sync program a couple of years ago. I just checked and it says that Colleen Winton is the narrator. I don't think I've listened to her before.

There are two audio versions of Anne of Green Gables available on Overdrive from my library, but both are checked out. Not much of a chance of getting either. I own the paperback, but it's boxed up. I think I know where it is, but it was easier to simply download a version from Internet Archive. I have started re-reading it already.

>110 thornton37814: There are several Librivox versions available if you'd rather do audio. I sampled several, and I think I could listen to version 3. The dramatic reading might be interesting, too.

>111 cbl_tn: I just listened and agree with your assessments. I'll probably go with version 3. I'm listening to another book at the moment, but I seem to be more in the mood for audiobooks right now. I think I can get to the audio this month!

>108 leahbird: a good narrator can make all the difference.

It so can. I'm listening to Egg & Spoon, which I got from AudioSync, right now and I'm not loving the narrator, Michael Page. He's not bad but not great and I very much expected a woman to narrate the story about two girls even though the actual narrator in the book is a man. Brains are stubborn I guess.

22. The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All The Way Home by Catherynne Valente (read by Catherynne Valente)


Description: This final book in the New York Times-bestselling Fairyland series finds September accidentally crowned the Queen of Fairyland. But there are others who believe they have a fair and good claim on the throne, so there is a Royal Race―whoever wins will seize the crown.

Along the way, beloved characters including the Wyverary, A-Through-L, the boy Saturday, the changelings Hawthorn and Tamburlaine, the wombat Blunderbuss, and the gramophone Scratch are caught up in the madness. And September's parents have crossed the universe to find their daughter.

Who will win? What will become of September, Saturday, and A-Through-L? The answers will surprise you, and are as bewitching and bedazzling as fans of this series by Catherynne M. Valente have come to expect.

Thoughts: I have to admit that I'd forgotten a lot of details from the last two books in this series and had a bit of a hard time getting myself caught back up with what was going on in the story when I started The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All The Way Home. I was also really worried how the sprawling adventures of September would wrap up.

Luckily, I got back on my narrative feet pretty quickly and was really enjoying another (and last, sigh) romp through Fairyland. I won't go into plot details but I will say that I really loved the way the story was wrapped up. There was some weird pacing at the end that threw me off, but the actual conclusion to the story is lovely!

And now I'm sad it's over. I hope they make this into a tv show. It would be bonkers but I would love it!

Rating: 4.17

Liked: 4
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 4.5
Writing: 4.5
Audio: 4.5

23. Bump: How to Make, Grown and Birth a Baby by Kate Evans


Description: Kate Evans, celebrated author of the breastfeeding bestseller, The Food of Love, acclaimed cartoonist, and mother, turns her attention to the joys and pains of growing a baby. Evans deftly handles the physical and emotional changes that come with being pregnant, looking at the practicalities of every stage as well as the challenges that may arise. Her no-nonsense, quirky, and accessible text is illustrated throughout with detailed artwork to guide the reader through the intricacies of human reproduction, whilst her customary laugh-out-loud cartoons demystify the complexities of pregnancy and birth.

The book includes:

• a graphic guide to conception
• practical help for those trying to conceive
• early pregnancy advice
• stop telling me what to do
• food, glorious food
• the call of the duvet
• engaging with the professionals
• abortion rights and wrongs
• miscarriage support
• screening and scans
• are you ready to have a baby?
• the physical preparations
• ripening and readying
• waiting well past your due date
• the art of birth: labor
• push it real good
• the Caesarean section

Thoughts: I LOVE THIS BOOK! I've been eyeing it for a few years trying to decide if I should buy it to loan out to friends and doula clients, but I never actually purchased it. Since my sister-in-law is expecting her first baby in January** and is going for a home birth, I decided now was a great time to give it a shot. I'm so glad I did.

Listen up lady friends, you should read this book. Even if you aren't ready to have babies or don't even want babies, I learned SO MUCH about fertility and ovulation cycles that is immensely helpful just being a woman. There are things in here I think every girl should be taught before she even starts her period that are seriously empowering. Knowing what your body is doing and how to take control of those processes is powerful stuff! It's as helpful at NOT getting pregnant as it is at getting pregnant.

And that's not even mentioning that the book is smart and funny! And illustrated in the most awesome drawings. AND gender, sexual orientation, and racially inclusive! Just sooooooooo good.

Here's some of the pages talking about infertility: (you can click to enlarge)


And one of the BEAUTIFUL illustrations you can find: (you can click to enlarge)


Rating: 4.5

Liked: 4.5
Writing: 4.5
Content: 4.5
Authority: 4
Value: 5

**OH YEAH! I'm going to be an aunt again!

Congrats on your upcoming niece or nephew! And that book - Bump - looks amazing. I had a hard time finding pregnancy books I liked. They either weren't very informative or scared me silly.

>117 porch_reader: Or they are so hippy dippy to be virtually useless. Or they're boring. ;( This one is really is great.

And thanks! I'm pretty excited. I didn't know if would be because my baby brother having a wife was weird enough, but babies just bring the happiness! They are pretty sure it's a boy, but better confirmation should be here in a few weeks.

24. Lumberjanes Vol 4: Out of Time by Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson, and Grace Ellis, Illustrated by Brooke Allen


Description: The mystery of history!

Jen just wants to have a normal lesson with her cabin, teaching Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley the basic survival skills needed without any supernatural intervention when a blizzard hits camp! Separated from her girls, Jen finds herself in more trouble than ever...until a mysterious stranger swoops in to save the day. Who is this taxidermist? What is her relationship to Rosie? Join Jen as she finds a way back to her girls, and a way to save the day!

Thoughts: This is the first Lumberjanes volume that I didn't really enjoy. It's still not bad because Lumberjanes is a cut above, but the story fell flat for me. It was nice that Jen got to have a bigger role here, but that left the story of the girls wanting and that came through in my feelings about the volume.

I'm sure we'll see Abigail again and that I do look forward to!

Rating: 3.83

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Art: 5

25. Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire (read by Michael Page)


Description: Elena Rudina lives in the impoverished Russian countryside. Her father has been dead for years. One of her brothers has been conscripted into the Tsar’s army, the other taken as a servant in the house of the local landowner. Her mother is dying, slowly, in their tiny cabin. And there is no food. But then a train arrives in the village, a train carrying untold wealth, a cornucopia of food, and a noble family destined to visit the Tsar in Saint Petersburg — a family that includes Ekaterina, a girl of Elena’s age. When the two girls’ lives collide, an adventure is set in motion, an escapade that includes mistaken identity, a monk locked in a tower, a prince traveling incognito, and — in a starring role only Gregory Maguire could have conjured — Baba Yaga, witch of Russian folklore, in her ambulatory house perched on chicken legs.

Thoughts: Thanks for AudiobookSync I finally got to finish this wonderful Gregory Maguire story! This book is much closer in feel to What-The-Dickens than to Maguire's most famous books- Wicked and it's sequels- in that it's more whimsical and child friendly but it's still about deep, real issues; in this case poverty, privilege, and the power of myths. The main characters, with the exception of Anton, are wonderful and interesting; Anton is annoying. The moral at the end of the book is not only sweet and appropriate but something we all need to be reminded of in our current time.

At first I wan't enamored with Michael Page's reading of the story, but his voice grew on me and was not a distraction by about halfway into the book. His Baba Yaga is a tad too screechy at times, but that's not out of character. His Žmey-Aždaja bugged me because it was too gravely but that wasn't out of character either, just not very pleasant to listen to.

Rating: 3.92

Liked: 4
Plot: 4
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Audio: 3.5

>120 leahbird: Now I regret not downloading that one when it was free.

>121 thornton37814: Bummer! I was really excited to see it pop up so I could finish it!

26. Imprudence by Gail Carriger (read by Moira Quirk)


Decription: Rue and the crew of the Spotted Custard return from India with revelations that shake the foundations of England's scientific community. Queen Victoria is not amused, the vampires are tetchy, and something is wrong with the local werewolf pack. To top it all off, Rue's best friend Primrose keeps getting engaged to the most unacceptable military types.

Rue has family problems as well. Her vampire father is angry, her werewolf father is crazy, and her obstreperous mother is both. Worst of all, Rue's beginning to suspect what they really are... is frightened.

Thoughts: Another quite fun romp with the crew of the Spotted Custard. There was a bit of waffling about without a real sense of direction, but the plot was still interesting and is a great set-up for the rest of the series! I love when old characters pop back up!

Rating: 3.75

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Audio: 4

27. Harry Potter & the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne (and JK Rowling and John Tiffany, sort of)


Description: Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."

Thoughts: Do I even dare review this? Unspoilery, I can say that I liked this but I didn't love it. It's very much NOT a book by JK Rowling. I think Jack Thorne really loves the series but he doesn't have Rowling's intimacy with it or her playfulness with words. And I don't think he understands how Polyjuice is brewed or it's effects...

Albus will be very familiar to Order of the Phoenix readers- he's very much angsty Harry. But maybe not as skilled. Or as popular. Scorpius is a story stealer. He is just a great character! So nerdy but cheerful about it, the opposite of Hermione's brilliant bristliness. The grown-up original characters are well drawn, pretty much as you'd expect them to be even if sometimes Harry is a crazy controlling dad. At least I can understand the instincts he's working off of, but it's pretty dark dude.

But ultimately, the story didn't work super well for me. I think the stage play still looks amazing. There are so many cool little details I'm dying to see come to life on stage. But as just words on pages, it was a bit wonky. I wish they hadn't decided to rehash so much of the story we already knew. Even with the "changes" that get made, it feels a little like it's cheapening Cedric's murder and all the other things that happened. And everyone just standing there watching Harry's parents get murdered is WHAT THE FUCK!?!

I pegged Delphi as up to something from the moment she was introduced. What the hell else could her purpose be? I didn't necessarily put it together that she was Voldemort's daughter- yeah, that's gross and I'm going to pretend it isn't a thing- but I knew she was up to no good.

Ultimately, I wish they'd picked a lane and stuck to it. If this had been a story about the original crew all grown up or a story about Albus's generation and NOT rehashed so much established story... well, one can dream. Having it hinge on this horrible relationship between Harry and Albus PLUS time travel PLUS return of the Dark One heebeejeebees just didn't ultimately work for me that well.

But that's ok too. I didn't need this to be the be all end all. Yes, I was excited, but my heart is safe in the original books. And I know I'll still read anything else Rowling puts out in this universe. We're good here.

And I'll see this play the first chance I get probably even though I know the story doesn't really work for me. Cause I can be fickle if I want to!

Rating: 3.5

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3
Characterization: 4
Writing: 3.5

>124 leahbird: Yes.

>125 norabelle414: Glad I'm not alone!

28. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders (read by Alyssa Bresnahan)


Description: Childhood friends Patricia Delfine and Laurence Armstead didn't expect to see each other again, after parting ways under mysterious circumstances during middle school. After all, the development of magical powers and the invention of a two-second time machine could hardly fail to alarm one's peers and families.

But now they're both adults, living in the hipster mecca San Francisco, and the planet is falling apart around them. Laurence is an engineering genius who's working with a group that aims to avert catastrophic breakdown through technological intervention. Patricia is a graduate of Eltisley Maze, the hidden academy for the world's magically gifted, and works with a small band of other magicians to secretly repair the world's every-growing ailments. Little do they realize that something bigger than either of them, something begun years ago in their youth, is determined to bring them together--to either save the world, or plunge it into a new dark ages.

A deeply magical, darkly funny examination of life, love, and the apocalypse.

Thoughts: This book is a study in missed opportunities. Which is really sad because the concept is really great. Why are so many authors choosing to blur past all the development in their stories and just focus on the emotional/plot highs? Development is a GREAT thing.

And then, just when I think we're maybe going to get some actual depth and development, at the convergence of all these threads, it just ends.

This either needed to be about half as long and just be a short story or about half again longer and be a fully realized, probably really great book.

Alyssa Bresnahan was a good narrator for this though. I'll keep an eye out for her in the future.

Rating: 3.42

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3
Characterization: 3.5
Writing: 3
Audio: 4

Happy Book Lovers' Day!

The sad irony is that I'm celebrating Book Lovers' Day by not being able to find a book to pick up and start. ;(

Happy Book Lovers' Day! I wasn't aware of it, but since it sounds similar to Valentine's day I'm going to celebrate similarly by wallowing in despair. :D

Actually, since I'm re-reading the Harry Potter books, and I'm currently reading my favorite one, I seem to be celebrating appropriately. Sorry you can't find a book, though! Maybe it's because you just have too many books to love.

It's cause all I can get through these days are audiobooks and none of the ones I want to listen to are available through the library and I'm being cheap.

So, trying to equate this to Valentine's day, it sounds like you have a porn addiction and all the guys you like are taken. Sorry to hear that!

Sure, that makes perfect sense.

On a totally unrelated note, we have this demo kids' play kitchen in the store with a working timer. Some kid just came in and wound it like a thousand times and I am now in danger of going insane listening to it tick down. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This has been a pretty fun discussion on a friend's Facebook page so I thought I'd bring it over here!

Too bad the new HP isn't amazing. But I can't say I expected much. How can you beat the original. I might read it one day, anyway.

29. The Martian by Andy Weir (read by RC Bray)


Description: Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Thoughts: I reread this because I couldn't make anything else sound good at the moment. And I enjoyed it just as much the second time as the first. It's just very well done. And still funny. You can read what I had to say about it last year here since absolutely nothing has changed.

I almost didn't count it since I feel like I just read it, but turns out it was officially last year so I'm counting it damnit!

Rating: 4.17

Liked: 4.5
Plot: 4.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Audio: 3.5

30. The Last Ever After by Soman Chainani (read by Polly Lee)


Description: In the riveting third installment of the New York Times bestselling School for Good and Evil series, everything old is new again, as Sophie and Agatha fight the past as well as the present to find the perfect end to their fairy tale.

Former best friends Sophie and Agatha thought their ending was sealed when they went their separate ways, but their storybook is about to be rewritten—and this time theirs isn't the only one. With the girls apart, Evil has taken over and the forces of Good are in deathly peril. Will Agatha and Sophie be able to work together to save them? Will they find their way to being friends again? And will their new ending be the last Ever After they've been searching for?

Soman Chainani delivers action, adventure, laughter, romance, and more twists than ever before in this extraordinary chapter of his epic series.

Thoughts: THIS IS SO ODIOUS! I was disappointed with the second book in the series but kinda thought this one might attempt to save it. I wasn't overly eager to read it, however, and just picked it up because it was available on Overdrive and I was at a loose end on what to read next. THIS WAS NOT IT!

I'm not even going to bother reviewing it. It's just really really really bad. It sets a terrible example for young adults about romantic relationships and friendships and family and happily ever after and good vs evil AND EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE. I nearly stopped listening about 30 times but there was a single mystery introduced early on that I really needed to have the answer to. AND THEN IT WAS STUPID and made everything actually worse.

JUST NO!

Polly Lee is too good of a narrator for this.

Rating: 1.25

Liked: 1
Plot: 1
Characterization: .5
Writing: 1
Audio: 3

136: My sister has that series, but I don't think she has read it yet. Sorry it went downhill for you! I've seen other reviews compliment the first book and then complain about how bad the series turned out in the end.

>136 leahbird: I actually hated the first book, so I can't imagine how I would feel about the second and third!

If you hated the first, you wouldn't even be able to believe how bad this book was. Your brain would just cease to comprehend words in an effort of self preservation.

I've fallen so far behind in this thread! I've got two, almost three, books to review! More importantly, I haven't told you guys what I got up to weekend before last!

I WENT TO THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER!!!!!!

I had to go to Orlando for work and there was no way I was going to Orlando and NOT going to Harry Potter World. My boss and a coworker went with me. My boss isn't really into HP that much but loves roller coasters and my coworker loves HP and roller coasters, so we were a great combo, since I just wanted to wander around being a HUGE nerd. Which I did.

You can check out my thoughts and my pictures here. I think it's set so you can look at it even if we aren't FB friends. I'll set it back to private in a few days.

It was glorious!

And then today I ransacked the local Hastings that is going out of business....

>141 leahbird: That is so sad they are going out of business although I'm sure you got some great deals.

>142 thornton37814: To be fair, they were a very bad bookstore. I stopped shopping there years ago because they never had what I was looking for, never hired staff that was knowledgeable about books outside of the huge blockbusters (or who were very professional and attentive), and insisted on using sticky price tags that either leave a gross residue on slicker dust jackets or tear flakes off the nice papery ones.

I had forgotten about the price tag thing until just now as I was processing these new ones and cursing.

>143 leahbird: I don't think I've ever been to one of those stores. I just hate to see bookstores close. I'm really sad at what some of the outlet stores in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are like now. They used to have really good stuff, but they are pretty much all worthless now. Most of them will probably shut down soon. I really hated to see the demise of Christian Book Outlet on 66 a few years back. It's just a thrift store now.

31. A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab (read by Steven Crossley)


Description: Kell is one of the last Travelers - magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes. As such, he can choose where he lands. There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there's Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. There's White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. And once upon a time, there was Black London...but no one speaks of that now.

Officially Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see - a dangerous hobby and one that has set him up for accidental treason.

Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cutpurse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Thoughts: I really liked this story! The characters of Kell and, especially, Lilah, are enjoyable and magnetic. The world building is good, providing enough detail about the other universes to make them tangible but leaving enough mystery that you can still be surprised and curious for more.

The motivation of the baddies was ok, believable, but it just didn't wholly satisfy me. I'm still trying to figure out how they thought they were really going to succeed given what they know is possible about travelers. It didn't mar my feelings for the book very much though.

Steven Crossley does a good job narrating this, even if I would have liked a little more nuance to Lilah. So few men can narrator women well, though, and he did better than most probably.

Rating: 4

Liked: 4
Plot: 4
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Audio: 4

32. The Master Magician by Charlie N Holmberg (read by Amy McFadden)


Description:Throughout her studies, Ceony Twill has harbored a secret, one she’s kept from even her mentor, Emery Thane. She’s discovered how to practice forms of magic other than her own—an ability long thought impossible.

While all seems set for Ceony to complete her apprenticeship and pass her upcoming final magician’s exam, life quickly becomes complicated. To avoid favoritism, Emery sends her to another paper magician for testing, a Folder who despises Emery and cares even less for his apprentice. To make matters worse, a murderous criminal from Ceony’s past escapes imprisonment. Now she must track the power-hungry convict across England before he can take his revenge. With her life and loved ones hanging in the balance, Ceony must face a criminal who wields the one magic that she does not, and it may prove more powerful than all her skills combined.

The whimsical and captivating follow-up to The Paper Magician and The Glass Magician, The Master Magician will enchant readers of all ages.

Thoughts: I believe this is going to be the last in the Paper Magician Series. I'd read more if they come out, but this serves as a nice ending if it is the last.

I was really really impressed with The Paper Magician, other than the plotting of the romance. The Glass Magician didn't impress in the same way but it introduced some interesting new magical ideas that were worth investigating. The Master Magician is a bit of both.

Ceony continues her clandestine study into shifting magical affinity, which is quite interesting. The structure of the story, however, leaves a lot to be desired. Why bother sending Ceony off to this other magician when it has almost nothing to do with the rest of the story. The only impact it has is to seperate Ceony and Emery so they don't know what the other is up to. It could have made for a workable plot device if it had been given any actual attention, but it just feels contrived here.

And like so many other stories (Harry Potter jumps to mind instantly), a whole lot of pain and suffering could be avoided if people just talked to the people them claim to love and trust.

Having said that, Ceony's magic is still fascinating. The magical construct in this world is just so intriguing! The inevitable fight scene is quite thrilling because of the constrains of this kind of magical system and Ceony's ability to work outside it. Very cool. I also really appreciate that Ceony is a badass Master Magician that can do things no one else can do yet, but she's still a lady of her time and doesn't need to act provocatively or against the mores of her culture to be a badass.

As is always the case in my reviewing these books, there is not enough Fennel. I am in love with that little paper dog!

Rating: 3.5

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3
Characterization: 3.5
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 4

33. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark (read by Simon Prebble)


Description: At the dawn of the nineteenth century, two very different magicians emerge to change England's history. In the year 1806, with the Napoleonic Wars raging on land and sea, most people believe magic to be long dead in England-until the reclusive Mr Norrell reveals his powers, and becomes a celebrity overnight.

Soon, another practicing magician comes forth: the young, handsome, and daring Jonathan Strange. He becomes Norrell's student, and they join forces in the war against France. But Strange is increasingly drawn to the wildest, most perilous forms of magic, straining his partnership with Norrell, and putting at risk everything else he holds dear.

Thoughts: I loved this when I first read it. I loved watching the miniseries when it aired last year. And I loved experiencing both again now!

This book is simply wonderful. It feels correct to the period, it feels scholarly with all the footnotes, it feels real and fleshed out. And it's damn fantastical and fun! If you somehow have made it these past 12 years without being swept up in this world, you should remedy that now.

One of my reasons for listening to this was because I'd forgotten specific details since I read it in 2008. Watching the miniseries last year, a few things felt somewhat off and I wanted to compare the book to the show now that the later is on Netflix. Which you should watch.

Turns out, the miniseries does a remarkable job of staying true to the book while condensing it significantly. I mean, the book is 1000 pages with copious footnotes and the miniseries was only 7 episodes, so it had to condense. But it still feels the same. And the actors were all wonderfully chosen and bring the book characters to life so well.

There are a few places where the timeline is played around with, but it doesn't affect the story. The last few episodes have some of the biggest tweaks but I actually rather liked how they structured it in the show. The story of Steven Black is more more detailed in the book, but the way they wrapped his story up on the show was handled better. Same result, just more powerful in the show.

Both book and miniseries are infinitely worth spending some time with!

Simon Prebble was an impressive reader for this story. He integrated the footnotes really well, break stride in the story just enough to set them apart but not so much that you feel lost going back into the main text.

Rating: 4.33

Liked: 4.5
Plot: 4.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4.5
Audio: 4

34. Monstress, Vol 1: Awakening by Marjorie Liu (illustrated by Sana Takeda)


Description: Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers.

Thoughts: To be perfectly honest, I bought this because the cover was gorgeous. It also sounded interesting.

But I just don't really get it. There are interesting things happening here and a few of the characters are compelling, but the story is vague and unclear and jumbled with metaphysical aspects that are obviously important but have no explanation or grounding which makes them totally confusing. There is just too much going on that made no sense to me and I am not willing to invest continued time and money just to have a little bit of an idea what anything means.

The art, however, is really beautiful. The color scheme is particularly effective. I'll look for more Sana Takeda in the future.

Rating: 3.16

Liked: 3
Plot: 2.5
Characterization: 3.5
Writing: 3
Art: 4

>147 leahbird: I haven't seen the miniseries! Maybe I should. I bet I'll love it.

>149 The_Hibernator: It's on Netflix now, if you have that.

I love Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell so much and I was SO IMPRESSED with the miniseries.

>150 norabelle414: Childermass and Vinculous are some of my favorite characters ever, and they are brilliantly portrayed in the miniseries. I mean, everyone is really, but those two especially so for supporting characters.

35. A Gathering of Shadows by Victoria Schwab (read by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading


Description: Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift, and into Black London.

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games-an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries-a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again-and so to keep magic's balance, another London must fall...

Thoughts: It was nice to be back with Kell and, especially, Lila. This world is interesting but these two characters are the heart of the story and Lila's burgeoning magical abilities are exciting to follow.

The biggest problem with this book is that it accepts that it's the middle point of a trilogy. Rather than investing in a deep and interesting story all it's own, Schwab allows it to serve almost completely as a bridge to the rest of the story she plans on telling with a bit of back story thrown in to complicate things going forward. It feels flimsy when it should have easily been strong. But it's just enough to make you want to keep reading. Hopefully the next book will meet the expectations set by the first book.

Steven Crossley did a good job narrating A Darker Shade of Magic so I don't know why they switched to Michael Kramer for this one. It was not an improvement. Kramer reads in a fairly monotone voice which is quieter than it needs to be, but then speaks louder in his character voices so you can't ever get a good sound setting. Kate Reading was good as usual. I was pleased at her addition so that Lila could have the nuance I was missing with Crossley's reading of A Darker Shade of Magic but I wish she'd been paired with him instead of Kramer. Oh well.

Rating: 3.5

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 3

I like the cover of that last one! :)

Me too! The first one has a good cover to, but this one is really great.

36. Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi (read by Bronson Pinchot)


Description: There are only three things that matter to twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn't miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him. But it's been almost three years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she's about to embark on one to find the other.

But bringing Father home is no small matter. In order to find him she'll have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is a boy named Oliver whose own magical ability is based in lies and deceit--and with a liar by her side in a land where nothing is as it seems, it will take all of Alice's wits (and every limb she's got) to find Father and return home to Ferenwood in one piece. On her quest to find Father, Alice must first find herself--and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss.

Thoughts: This is a delightful middle grade book about two lands very different from our own and the girl and boy who have to traverse them to set some things right. Alexis is wonderful! Different and independent and more magical then even she can admit. Oliver is a good companion for Alexis, even if there were plenty of times that his withholding of information bugged the crap out of me.

The places they visited and the characters they run into are vivid and weird and so intriguing! BUT. But. As happens all too often, especially in middle grade books, the story reaches its conclusion very abruptly. The book does wrap the story up for the most part, but it feels like it ends about 1/2 or 3/4 of the way through the adventure. It left me a little discombobulated.

Bronson Pinchot was a surprisingly good narrator for this story.

Rating: 3.75

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Audio: 4

37. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (read by Kirsten Potter)


Description: There is no problem that a library card can't solve. The Andreas family is one of readers. Their father, a renowned Shakespeare professor who speaks almost entirely in verse, has named his three daughters after famous Shakespearean women. When the sisters return to their childhood home, ostensibly to care for their ailing mother, but really to lick their wounds and bury their secrets, they are horrified to find the others there. See, we love each other. We just don't happen to like each other very much. But the sisters soon discover that everything they've been running from-one another, their small hometown, and themselves-might offer more than they ever thought.

Thoughts: This was not at all what I was expecting it to be. I think I assumed it was genre but it turned out to be straight fiction. Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just unexpected. I liked this story of sisters who are propelled by their relationships to each other and crippled by those same relationships in almost equal measure. My sister and I get along MUCH better than these sisters but it is still a dynamic that I think we would both easily relate to. Maybe most sisters would.

There is a narrative trick that runs through the entire book that I'm still pondering on. The story is narrated in this mash of first person and third person. The narrator tells the story of each sister from the third person perspective but with a unifying WE. I thought the point was for the reader to puzzle out which of the sisters was ultimately telling the story, but that doesn't fit. I had a brief moment where I thought maybe this really WAS genre and the narrator was a dead sister, the emotional presence of whom was haunting the sisters throughout their lives. But no. I think it's just to unify the sisters in their cohesive gaggle.

Rating: 3.58

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 3.5
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 4

I know I've posted about Gollancz GORGEOUS Discworld Collector's Library books before. They are really amazing and I was devastated when I started collecting them to find that Gollancz only had the rights to the first 21 books in the series that now stretches to 41. Transworld held the rest of the rights and I'd been waiting on pins and needles for 2 years to hear what the future of the Collector's Library would be.

Turns out I wasn't paying quite enough attention. It was announced back in FEBRUARY that Doubleday (a sister imprint of Transworld under the Penguin/Random House umbrella) would continue the Collector's Library for the rest of the series. Naturally, I just heard this today when the next four volumes released!



And they are still just as beautiful as the others, with amazing art by Joe McLaren. I guess I need to start buying again.... 41 is a LOT of books to purchase.

http://discworld.com/discworld-collectors-library-covers-continue/

Addy and I voted twice today, once for President of the Children's Library and once for President of the United States. We take both very seriously!

Take your kids to early vote at the library. Check out some books, grab a snack at the cafe, and the hour long line is a piece of cake! #ElephantandPiggyForPresident #ImWithHer

157: Haha, oh dear. Well, I must say, I'm comforted by the fact that there is someone out there who is worse than I am about attractive covers.

>159 Ape: You say that like it's a bad thing. ;)

It's so bad that I've calculated approximately how much space and money it would take to shelve all my books facing out. It's kind of scary.

Oh, it's great for me, but by the looks of it, very bad for your bank account. :P

I'm a sucker for an attractive cover too.

The mall, in its infinite wisdom, decided to do Malloween on Oct 22nd this year. It was decent but not as good as it should have been. The real problem is that they basically guaranteed that we would have NO CUSTOMERS today by doing this. In the 5 hours I've been here, I have literally had 3 groups come in. And only one purchase. Way to go Mall. Way to go.

>163 leahbird: Some of the schools were doing the Halloween parties for kids last week instead of today too. It makes no sense to me.

I am thankful of all my American LT pals.

Wow, I just realized I've not posted in here in almost a month. It has been a very crazy and fucked up month. Since Halloween:

- my grandmother had a heart attack and some small strokes, landing in rehab
- I got my blind grandfather into assisted living since my grandmother was his primary caretaker
- I mostly ignored my 34th birthday because of previous
- we moved the store to a new location in the mall in a day and a half
- experienced a devastating election result
- my mom landed in the ERb for an emergency endoscopy because she was basically choking to death... again
- spent 4 days watching my grandmother die from another set of larger strokes while my conservative family talked nothing but Trump and made me cry every day
- buried my grandmother
- moved my grandfather home from assisted living against all our wishes
- spent some time with a girl I might actually really like but is probably doomed to fail because she lives 3 hours away
- suffered through Thanksgiving with that same conservative family... Who made me cry again
- slogged through Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and whatever today was at the store which almost killed me

And it's not letting up until after Christmas most likely. I'm thankful for things and the people who love me but it's not keeping me above water well right now. Hope everything is well with everyone and that there is some peace in the future.

>166 leahbird: Sorry for your loss, and that you are going through tough times right now.

>166 leahbird: I think you forgot the part about everything being on fire and inhaling smoke constantly. Prayers for you as you adjust to the loss of your grandmother and cope with whatever responsibilities you may in caregiving for your grandfather.

>167 foggidawn: Thanks! Sometimes you just need to get it out. ;)

>168 thornton37814: You're right! That's been a blast. But I think I actually hear some rain drops as I type so thank God for small miracles. Here's hoping we get enough to deal with the forest fires and not so much that the flood warning is a thing to worry about.

Hi Leah. I'm so sorry about all the difficulties that life has thrown at you in the last few weeks. I hope they're at an end and life will start getting better for you.

I'm horrified by the news from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. I hope the rain has arrived in time to save the city.

>166 leahbird: A few gulps reading that message, Leah. Take good care of yourself. xx

>170 cbl_tn: It's so devastating. I guess I can now say that I'm truly and completely thankful that so far there are no deaths reported in the fires.

We were watching with bated breath last night with all the wind. I live right off Foothills Parkway and the fear was that the Sevier fire would merge with the Walland fire and blow this way. Thinking about evacuating 30+ horses is pretty scary and intimidating.

>171 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. I'm OK for the most part. Some days the volume of issues piles up on me, but I'm doing OK.

>172 leahbird: I'm glad that you're OK where you are, but it's a good idea to have a plan. I'm listening to the press conference and just heard that there have been 3 confirmed fatalities. That's 3 too many, but so far it's not nearly as bad as it could have been. There are story after story of miraculous escapes.

I just took Adrian to a vet appointment. His vet is in Sevier County, and I found out that they took in several displaced animals in their boarding facility. I have to go back tomorrow to pick up some medicine for Adrian, and I think I'll take a bag of food to help feed their unexpected guests.

I just heard that too. Very saddening.

My boss was at Dollywood this morning helping to relocate the bald eagles. She said the animal shelters are taking in tons of animals and can use food, blankets, paper towels, and pet crates. Camp Montvale up the road from me is open to evacuees and livestock so they will probably need some things soon.

I just found out from my friend who volunteers for the Humane Society on Kingston Pike that HSTV and our vet's office picked up the animals from the Sevier County Humane Society last night. I just donated to HSTV last week at their open house so I'll help out with the vet's expenses this time.

I hope you're safe over your way. I'm close enough to the county line that the weather app on my phone woke me up with an alert.

Spent some time in the basement riding out the tornado warnings but otherwise ok. Lots of rain followed so that was a huge relief. I hope the rain made it to Gatlinburg and I'm keeping Athens in my thoughts now since they have tornado damage. ;(

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

>178 PaulCranswick: Beautifully said Paul! It's my eternal wish.

The Magicians TV show is on Netflix as of today!

Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Leah

Thanks Paul! I'm attempting to wrap things up here because I'm woefully behind, but I'll head to the new group as soon as I get this done. Can't believe it's 2017!

There are MANY books I finished since all the way back in October and have never gotten around to logging or reviewing. It's crazy how bad the year got away from me. I'm going to list them here and maybe get around to brief thoughts.

38. The Westing Game
39. Bitterblue
40. The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories
41. Carry On
42. Fire
43. Graceling
44. Good Omens
45. The Bad Beginning
46. The Reptile Room
47. The Wide Window
48. The Miserable Mill
49. The Austere Academy

38. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (read by Jeff Woodman)


Description: A bizarre chain of events begins when sixteen unlikely people gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing’s will. And though no one knows why the eccentric, game-loving millionaire has chosen a virtual stranger—and a possible murderer—to inherit his vast fortune, on things for sure: Sam Westing may be dead…but that won’t stop him from playing one last game!

Thoughts: Weird but interesting mystery. Many of the characters are pretty unlikable for most of the book but it comes right in the end. I somewhat pegged the mystery but there were still a few surprises.

Rating: 3.25

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 3
Writing: 3
Audio: 3

39. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (read by Xanthe Elbrick)


Description: Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck's reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle--disguised and alone--to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them may hold a key to her heart.

Thoughts: It had been quite a while since I read Graceling and I had forgotten much of what happened in that book to set this one up. I wasn't patient enough to wait to revist Graceling before tackling Bitterblue when it came available but I probably should have.

I liked the characters in this one but the action seemed forced in the beginning. Bitterblue seemed to have entirely too much freedom and not enough in odd places.

It was a fine story but not something I would most likely recommend heavily or revisit. Xanthe Elbrick is a good reader though and I will look out for her again.

Rating: 3.25

Liked: 3
Plot: 3
Characterization: 3.5
Writing: 3
Audio: 4

40. The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by Susanna Clarke (read by Simon Prebble and Davina Porter)


Description: Following the enormous success of 2004 bestseller and critics' favorite Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke delivers a delicious collection of ten stories set in the same fairy-crossed world of 19th-century England. With Clarke's characteristic historical detail and diction, these dark, enchanting tales unfold in a slightly distorted version of our own world, where people are bedeviled by mischievous interventions from the fairies. With appearances from beloved characters from her novel, including Jonathan Strange and Childermass, and an entirely new spin on certain historical figures, including Mary, Queen of Scots, this is a must-have for fans of Susanna Clarke's and an enticing introduction to her work for new readers. Some of these stories have never before been published; others have appeared in the New York Times or in highly regarded anthologies. In this collection, they come together to expand the reach of Clarke's land of enchantment-and anticipate her next novel.

Thoughts: These were enjoyable stories for the most part but I am, ultimately, not a great audience for story collections. This was certainly better than most, coming from Susanna Clarke and her "fairy-crossed world of 19th-century England," but I kept wishing for a full story to meet the great Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and it just couldn't.

Both good narrators though.

Rating: 3.42

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3
Characterization: 3
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 4

41. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (read by Euan Morton)


Description: Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here--it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

Thoughts: Relisten. Held up. http://www.librarything.com/topic/194128#5317437

Rating: 4

42. Fire by Kristin Cashore (read by Xanthe Elbrick)


Description: It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her. She is the last of her kind . . .

Thoughts: Relisten. Still good. The best of the trilogy. Apparently Xanthe Elbrick has grown on me since I last listened to this. http://www.librarything.com/topic/172068#4640274

Rating: 4

43. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (read by


Description: Kristin Cashore’s best-selling, award-winning fantasy Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace . . . and how to put it to good use. A thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure (and steamy romance!) that will resonate deeply with adolescents trying to find their way in the world.

Thoughts: Revisit, first listen. I'm not the biggest fan of Full Cast Audio readings and I'd forgotten that the melodrama bugged me in this book so it wasn't the most successful listen this year.

Rating: 3.08

Liked: 3
Plot: 3
Characterization: 3.5
Writing: 3
Audio: 3

44. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (read by Martin Jarvis)


Description: According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .

Thoughts: Revisit, first listen. Looking back, I haven't read this since 2011, which seems insane, and have only read it in years I wasn't participating in challenges and, therefore, not reviewing. Nuts!

I LOVE THIS BOOK! A friend gave it to me when I was living in New Zealand which will probably always make it special, but it's also just an amazing book. If you have somehow made it this far through life without reading it, READ IT NOW. Seriously.

Martin Jarvis was decent but not really great as a reader. I'll try to forgive him.

Rating: 4.84

Liked: 5
Plot: 5
Characterization: 5
Writing: 5
Audio: 4

I'm inordinately (a word that here means SUPER DUPER FREAKING HUGELY*) excited about the Netflix adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Particularly inordinate because I missed the initial book craze that started around 2000 (I was busy reading Harry Potter and/or being a teenager) and wasn't hugely fond of the movie that covered the first three books. The premise was rather fascinating so I kept trying to get into the series. I bought them all but only got through the first 3 books before I got bored with the formula even though they were rather charming.

BUT, Netflix has a tendency to do things superbly and Neil Patrick Harris is divine and I'm SUPER DUPER FREAKING HUGELY EXCITED. And, therefore, listening to the books so I'm prepared.

45. The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (read by Tim Curry and a Full Cast)


Description: There is nothing to be found in the pages of A Series of Unfortunate Events but misery and despair. You still have time to choose something else to read. But if you must know what unpleasantries befall the charming and clever Baudelaire children read on... Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky. The three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune and cold porridge for breakfast. Then again, why trouble yourself with the unfortunate resolutions? Avoid these books in Lemony Snicket's international bestselling series and you'll never have to know what happens!

In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likeable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy.

Thoughts: Revisit, first listen. I enjoyed this much more as an audiobook even though the Full Cast reading was strange and noisy. They went full throttle with it like an old radio play and ambient sound and everything. It was distracting. But Tim Curry!

I like the strange maudlin quality of these books and how smart and interesting the Buadelaire kids are. Count Olaf (and all the other future baddies) are too one-note and caricatured to really appeal to me as an adult, but I think Addy will find them immensely entertaining when she reads these.

Rating: 3.33

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3
Characterization: 3
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 3.5

46. The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket (read by Tim Curry)


Description: There is nothing to be found in the pages of A Series of Unfortunate Events but misery and despair. You still have time to choose something else to read. But if you must know what unpleasantries befall the charming and clever Baudelaire children read on...The siblings endure a car accident, a terrible smell, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a brass reading lamp, and the re-appearance of a person they hoped to never see again. Then again, why trouble yourself with the unfortunate resolutions? Avoid these books in Lemony Snicket's international bestselling series and you'll never have to know what happens!

Thoughts: Revisit, first listen. When I read these a few years ago, I found this one quite charming. Mr. Poe's ineptitude is already annoying at this point but the kids are still wonderful and the plot is grim but clever.

They ditched the Full Cast for this audio and it's much better. Tim Curry shines but he could do less vocalizing of Mr. Poe's constant coughing.

Rating: 3.58

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Characterization: 3.5
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 4

47. The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket (read by Lemony Snicket)


Description: There is nothing to be found in the pages of A Series of Unfortunate Events but misery and despair. You still have time to choose something else to read. But if you must know what unpleasantries befall the charming and clever Baudelaire children read on...A story that includes a hurricane, a signalling device, hungry leaches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain and a doll named Pretty Penny. Then again, why trouble yourself with the unfortunate resolutions? Avoid these books in Lemony Snicket's international bestselling series and you'll never have to know what happens!

Thoughts: Revisit, first listen. This is where I left off last time because the formulaic nature of the series was too much. At least with Monty in The Reptile Room there was a mostly normal caring adult. Aunt Josephine is a whacko.

Lemony Snicket reads this and the next 2 books. He does a quite fine job but lacks Tim Curry's Tim Curryiness.

Rating: 3.17

Liked: 3
Plot: 3
Characterization: 3
Writing: 3
Audio: 4

48. The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket (read by Lemony Snicket)


Description: There is nothing to be found in the pages of A Series of Unfortunate Events but misery and despair. You still have time to choose another international best-seller to read. But if you must know what unpleasantries befall the charming and clever Baudelaire children read on...There are many pleasant things to read about, but The Miserable Mill contains none of them. Within its pages one will find a giant pincher machine, a bad casserole, a man with a cloud of smoke where his head should be, a hypnotist, a terrible accident and coupons.

Thoughts: This one was another slight stinker. Inept and uncaring adults are one thing to torture the Baudelaire's with, but child labor doesn't really work. The few nice characters, and Count Olaf in a dress, saved it a bit.

Rating: 3.08

Liked: 3
Plot: 2.5
Characterization: 3
Writing: 3
Audio: 4

49.The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket (read by Lemony Snicket)


Description: There is nothing to be found in the pages of A Series of Unfortunate Events but misery and despair. You still have time to choose another international best-seller to read. But if you must know what unpleasantries befall the charming and clever Baudelaire children read on...Within the chapters of The Austere Academy the children face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E. and the metric system.

Thoughts: Things are started to improve! Well, not for the Baudelaire's, but for the story. This one was much better than the last two and a lot of that has to do with a certain set of triplets and the hints about the larger mystery.

Rating: 3.75

Liked: 3.5
Plot: 4
Characterization: 4
Writing: 3.5
Audio: 4

*If you don't get this reference, pick up these books.

New 2017 thread! I'll post my best of and meme over there.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/245482